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School trips to Eden

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Workshop overview

What happens: Pupils begin the session in our Core classroom looking at images of homes in Brazil in the UK and talking about similarities and differences between the two countries. We then focus in on Manaus, and the conditions experienced by people who live there.

Supported by a map, the pupils explore the Rainforest Biome with their teachers. They have two tasks running in parallel. Task 1 is all about noticing and recording the physical and sensory experience of being in the rainforest. In task 2 pupils observe and identify 2D shapes used in the structures of the different buildings in the Biome. They record features of the buildings and talk about those features’ links to the conditions.

On returning to the classroom the students use their new knowledge to design and build a rainforest shelter for those ‘renowned rainforest explorers’ (!) Copacabana Ken and Bahia Barbie. They choose from a selection of materials and create their structure before describing and explaining their choices to the group.

Location: This workshop starts and finishes in a classroom inside our purpose built education centre, the Core, and includes an exploration of the Rainforest Biome.

Skills and curriculum links

This workshop enables students to:

think about similarities and differences between the UK and Brazil

identify and talk about 2D shapes

consider materials and structures appropriate for different conditions

select and join materials to achieve a goal.

We've designed the workshop to help teachers cover the following subject areas:

Geography

Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a contrasting non-European country.

Design and technology

Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria; Build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable.

English SL 5

Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.

Maths

Compare and sort common 2D and 3D shapes and everyday objects.

I was surprised at what Brazil looked like, because I didn’t know there were houses that could float on water.

Practical information

The workshop costs £5.80 per pupil, with a minimum charge of £116 per group (includes VAT). Maximum group size is 35. The cost includes:

a facilitated workshop with our Education Team

free access to the Eden site for the day

all equipment needed for the workshop

free teaching resources enabling your class to prepare for the workshop and to follow up on the activity (download a sample copy)

a personal welcome from the Education Team at the entrance

a base for your bags in our purpose-built education centre, The Core

a space to eat your own lunch

free entry for accompanying adult helpers, whose participation is essential to the success of the day (please note our suggested adult/pupil ratios are as follows: Early Years Foundation Stage, 1:3; Years 1-3, 1:6; Years 4 and up, 1:10). You’re welcome to bring more helpers if you’d like; for a charge of £14.75 per adult

a free preparatory visit to Eden for teachers wanting to plan their school trip, which should be booked in advance